Automobile cigarette case with an automatic electrical lighter

ABSTRACT

An automobile cigarette case including a storage compartment for cigarettes, an electrical heater for lighting a cigarette and mechanical control means for applying electrical power to the heater and for moving the cigarette to a position where it may be removed by an operator.

, Dec. 5, 1972 4/1947 Mayer 8/1953 Reck et al....

6/1958 Hills et 6/1961 Worth et Desbiens..............................

1/1968 Lester 2,419,458 WITH AN AUTOMATIC ELECTRICAL 2,650,277 LIGHTER 2,747,038 5/1956 Perkovich.............

2,838,624 [72] Inventor: Alexander Martin Senkewich, 545 2,990,460 West 164 Street, New York, N.Y. 3,543,14 10032 3,351,735 11/1967 June 15, 1971 3,361,894

Primary Examiner-VolodymyrY. Mayewsky Attorney-James M. Heilman United States Patent Senkewich [54] AUTOMOBILE CIGARETTE CASE [22] Filed:

21 AppLNo; 153,267

the cigarette to a position where it may be removed by an operator.

14 Claims, 36 Drawing Figures References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS .rrg mmmm c n ai aa r T mO oh M ed 1TH aa a CH m n .l m wh w demh Mm m R w m T a em s ma a mnn w e o ra a D. .mrw mm mm maw w dr mta g m m H m w m .UAPHM 60$HM 2 H nm ml dz e. 2 2%.L 7 u 3 Gu 3 4 1 .2.n M 1A! 1 u 5 MwNW I 2 m 2 6 m 6H m .6 9 mu l "9 ""6 m2 m uh m NR6 8 m & I n 2 C lo rm 5 R U IF n .1] I18 5 55 .1 [1

PATENTED DEC 5 I972 SHEET 1 BF 3 INVENTOR u M MW) u PATENTED B 51912 3.705414 sum 3 or 3 INVENTOR pi -QM Ala/64h jmww'pg AUTOMOBILE CIGARETTE CASE WITH AN AUTOMATIC ELECTRICAL LIGHTER CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is an improvement on my prior application Ser. No. 622,662, filed Mar. I3, 1967, titled Cigarette Cases for Automobile, examined in Group 31 1', and now abandoned,

The proposed type of cigarette case for automobile with an automatic cigarette lighter serves the general purpose creating such conditions for the driver which will enable him to concentrate only on his drivmg.

By using my cigarette case, the driver has to make only two moves:'The first move to press the moving part of the cigarette case; the second move to take out the lighted cigarette. Using the proposed cigarette case in an automobile contributes a certain amount of safety while driving.

The cigarette case includes a closed container having a storage compartment for retaining a plurality of cigarettes in parallel arrangement. Cigarettes may be added to the compartmentthrough a door at the top of the case. The lowest cigarette may be lighted by moving it from its storage position to aposition where the end of the cigarette is in contact with an electrical heater coil. The control mechanism which moves the cigarette to its lighted position also closes a switch whichapplies electrical power to the heater. When'the lighted cigarette is removed from the case, the Switch is turned off. FIG. 1: Vertical section of the cigarette case taken along line 1--1 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2: Vertical section of the same-taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3: Horizontal section only chanel taken along line 33 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4: Vertical section of the same taken along line 4 4in FIG.2.

FIG. 5: Same-taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6: Isometric view of the sliding box destined to be filled with cigarettes.

FIG. 7: Top view of'the same.

FIG. 8: Top view of the moving plate adjusting the length of the cigarettes.

FIG. 9: Side view of the same.

FIG. 10: Rear view of the moving part of'the cigarette case with contact mechanism (mercury switch), but without the electrical lighter. Mercury switch here is in off" position.

FIG. 11: Same, but mercury switch here is in on position mechanism off FIG. 12: Vertical section of the same taken along line l212 in FIG. 10. This section is shown at the time when the mercury switch has a horizontal position. FIG. 13: Front view of the pusher.

FIG. 14: Side view of the same.

FIG. 15: Horizontal section of the same taken along line 15-15 in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16: Side view of the cigarette case, which with the rear wall, is fixed to the dashboard of the automobile. FIG. 17: Rear view of the same.

FIG. 18: Side view of the cigarette case, which is fixed to the dashboard of the automobile (same as radio), through the outside border of the cigarette case.

FIG. 19: Rear view of the same.

FIG. 20: Rear view of the moving part of the cigarette case with contact mechanism (points), but without the electric lighter. Points here are in off position. FIG. 21: Same, but points here are in on" position. FIG. 22: Vertical section of the same taken along line 22-22 in FIG. 20. FIG. 23: Rear view of the moving part of the cigarette case with contact mechanism (mercury switch), but without the electrical lighter. Mercury switch here is in off" position. FIG. 24: Same, but mercury switch here is in on position.- FIG. 25; Vertical section of the same taken along line 25-25 in FIG. 23. This section is shown at any time when the mercury switch has a horizontal position. FIG. 26: Front view of the rubber washer. FIG. 27: Vertical section of the same taken along 27- 27 of FIG. 26. FIG. 28: FIG. 29: Top view of the same. FIG. 20z-Rear view of the moving part of the cigarette case with contact mechanism (plates), but without the lighter. The contact plates here are shown in of position. FIG. 31: Same,-but contact plates here are in on position. FIG. 32: Verticalsection of the same taken along line 32-32 in FIG. 30. FIG. 33: Vertical section of the cigarette case lower part. Here are shown the contact plates and cigarette lighter. FIG. 34: The trihedral-contact plate which is turned by the end of the cigarette. FIG. 35: The second of the contact plates. FIG. 36: The load on the free end of the mercury switch. a

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the sections of the cigarette case are shown. As it is shown on these FIGS, the inside part of the cigarette case vertical channel 54 is fixed with flanges 52 and 53 to the outside body 51 of the cigarette case. This vertical channel 54 is formed with an incline by which the cigarettes roll down. The cigarette case is filled from the top where there is a door 55. The bottom of the incline is open, but the cigarettes are held by support 56 of the moving part 57. The front part of the cigarette case has amoving part 57 at the bottom (FIG. 2). The moving part 57 can turn around shaft 58. When the cigarette case is not in use, this moving part 57 comes out in the front from the vertical plain. In this inclined position. part 57 is held by spring 59. The upper part of part 57 is meant for the receiving of cigarettes and for that purpose it has a corresponding configuration. When part 57 is pressed at any point, it turns around shaft 58 on several angles and is held by stops 60 and 61. At that time part 57 takes the position as shown in FIG. 12. Plain 56 with part 57 moves, and cigarette 62 from channel 54 (FIG. 2) falls down on the oval surface of part 57. When pressure is removed from 57, then part 57 takes its original position (FIG. 2) with the help of spring 59. On the way back of part 57 with cigarette 62 to its original position, the left end of the cigarette meets stop 63, fixed on body 51. Around this stop 63 as around a lever, the cigaretter starts turning the left end of the cigarette will go down into empty space, and the right will go up. When part 57 takes its original position (FIG. 2) the cigarette 62 takes the position from horizontal to vertical (FIGS. 1,2 and 11 At the time of the turning ofthe cigarette, its short end, which is going down, does the following work: The short end of the cigarette, on its way down, meets pusher 64 and starts pushing it in the front. When the cigarette takes a vertical position, then the pusher 64 moves some distance, and from the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, takes the position as shown on FIG. 11. Pusher 64 is connected to the mercury switch 86. With the movement of pusher 64, the mercury switch turns from the position off" (FIG. to the position on (FIG. 11). Pusher 64 consists of the following parts: A round rod, which has a bend end of 90 (FIG. 13). This pusher can move freely to the left and to the right inside the holes of two brackets 65 and 66. Bracket 65 has two holes one is for the long end of the pusher and the other one for the short end. Because of this, the pusher has only longitudinal movement forward and backward.

Bush 67, with finger 68 is fitted firmly on pusher 64 (FIGS. 13, 14 and 15). The end'of finger 68 freely moves inside clip 69, which is fitted firmly on shaft 70 (FIGS. 13, 14 and 15). In this way,by pressing the left end of the cigarette,-pusher 64 moves from left to right, and with it moves finger 68 with bush 67, which is tightly fitted on pusher 64. Clip 69, which is fitted firmly on shaft 70, of mercury switch 86 is obliged to turn clockwise by finger 68, which moves from left to right. Mercury switch 86 turns on the same angle as clip 69 turns (FIGS. 10 and 11). In this way, mercury switch 96 turns from the position off (FIG. 10) to position on (FIG. 11) At that time, the cigarette takes a vertical position and the bottom end of it will be against the electric lighter 71 (FIGS. 1 and 2). At the same time, electric lighter 71 and the signal lamp 72 will be lighted, and in a few minutes the cigarette will be lighted from the lighter. Taking out the lighted cigarette pusher 64 is freed with the help of spring 74 (FIG. 11) and it takes its original position (FIG. 10). Spring 74 leans with one end to bush 67 and with the other to bracket 66. With nuts 75, it is possible to regulate the stroke of mercury switch 86. Shaft 70 of the mercury switch turns on stands 100 and 101, fixed on bracket 73 (FIG. 12).

Shaft 70 of mercury switch consists of two parts, fixed on the hollow trunnion (FIG. 12). Errection of electric lighter 71 and signal lamp 72 is understandable from the drawings.

For the way of fastening the cigarette case on the automobile, here I propose two types of cigarette cases. One type of cigarette case, with plate 76 (FIGS. 16 and 17) on the back side, is recommended for fastening at any convenient place in the automobile.

The second type of cigarette case is fastened on the dashboard of the automobile, fastened the same way as the radio, clock, etc. For that purpose, on the dashboard will be cut a space for the cigarette case, where it will be fastened on the outside border 77, with screws 104 to the dashboard. On the top of the cigarette case is put a regulating box 78 (FIGS. 6 and 7). In FIG. 7 is shown this box 78, with regulating place 79 (FIGS. 8 and 9) and with cigarettes. The regulating plate 79 can move in the limit of slot 80, and with screws 81 can be fastened on a place which will correspond to the length of cigarettes in use. The cigarette lighter and the signal lamp are fed by the electric current of the automobile battery.

SECOND VARIATION This variation differs from the already mentioned one only by the method of turning on the contacts for lighting the electric lighter and signal lamp. For this purpose, in this varation, the mercury switch is also used, but its use is somewhat different. On rubber washer 82 (FIGS. 26 and 27), with an inside diameter corresponding to the diameter of the mercury switch, is put one turn of rod 23. Both its ends, on the top, are straightened in one line. This will be the shaft of the mercury switch (FIG. 25) when the rubber washer will be tightly fitted on the mercury switch (FIGS. 23, 24 and 25). One end of this shaft is turned upward in a straight angle, and this end enters into the hole of flattened part 85 of the pusher 84 (FIGS. 23 and 24). The process of turning on the contact in this variation is the same as in the first varation.

The turning off, in this variation, that is the return to the original position of pusher 84 and mercury switch 86, will be made by the weight of load 87, which is found at the end of the mercury switch (FIG. 23). On the glass tube of the mercury switch a rubber tube 88 is tightly fitted (See FIG. 36). On the rubber tube a metal tube, with thread 89, is tightly fitted. On this metal tube nut 90 is screwed on. With this nut, the weight of load 87 can be regulated. Since the rubber used here (washer, pipe) will dry out from time to time, it is necessary to coat them with a protection fluid or use a similar substitue for the rubber.

THIRD VARIATION This variation differs from the two already described only by the system of contacts for the turning on and off of the cigarette lighter and signal lamp. For this purpose, in this variation, ordinary contacts (points) are used. One contact is movable 91 and one is unmovable 92 (FIGS. 21 and 22). The movable point is fastened to suspension 93, which is tightly fastened on pusher 64. If necessary, the position of the unmovable point can easily be regulated by nuts 107. The turning off and on of the contacts in this variation is the same as in variation one.

FOURTH VARIATION In this variation everything is the same as in the previous variations, with the exception of the turning on and off of the contacts of the electric cigarette lighter and the signal lamp. The turning on of the contacts for the cigarette and signal lamp is made by two contact plates (FIGS. 30, 31, 32 and 33). As shown above, by the return of part 57 with the cigarette to its original position, the left end of the cigarette will meet stop 63 (FIGS. 1 and 2); and around this stop 63 as around the lever, the cigarette starts turning the left end of the cigarette will go down into empty space, and the right will go up. When part 57 takes its original position (FIG. 2), Cigarette 62 takes the position from horizOntal to vertical. While lowering the left end, it (the end of the cigarette) will meet surface 94 of the trihedral plate 95 (FIG. 30). By pressing on surface 94, the cigarette will make plate 95 rotate around shaft 96.

In a few degrees of the turn, surface 97 of plate 95 will be in touch with contact plate 98, which rotates around shaft 103. Then the contacts will be closed. In FIG. 30 is shown the position of the contact plates in their open position, and in FIG. 31 is shown the position when closed with the cigarette holding the contacts in their closed position. Immediately the cigarette lighter is made red hot and the signal lamp goes on. When the lighted cigarette is taken out, then the contact plates separate (FIG. 30), the contact disconnectes and the cigarette lighter and signal lamp go out. In trihedral plate 95, the weight of surface 97 must be such that during normal (not working) time, by the weight of this surface, plate 95 must take the position indicated in FIG. 30. The working surface of both plates that create the contacts must be covered by a special (non oxidizing) metal.

In order to avoid temporary locking of the plates during a sloping position of the automobile, it is recommended a construction of stop 99 by plate 98. When this stop is there, plate 98 will not turn left in the direction of plate 95. As can be seen from FIG. 32, the fastening shafts of contact plates are made'through isolators 105 and 106 to the inside side of moving part 57 of the cigarette case. i

From the above description of the structure and operation of the invention, it will be evident that the device is operated by a single depression of a control means to position a lighted cigarette where it can be grasped by a user.

lclaim:

l. A cigarette case and lighter for delivering a lighted cigarette to an operator comprising a container for housing all the operating components; a pair of spaced parallel sheets forming a channel, the space between the sheets for accommodating a single layer of cigarettes; a rockable plate normally closing the bottom opening of said channel and resiliently urged to remain in that position; a trough positioned in front of said plate for receiving a single cigarette when the plate is manually moved away from the channel opening; a stop secured to a portion of the container and extending into one end of said trough for rotating the cigarette about a substantially vertical axis when the trough and rockable plate are normalized; an electric heater coil mounted adjacent to said rockable plate for lighting the end of the cigarette that remains within the container; an electric switch connected in series between the electric heater and a source of electric power for supplying current to the heater; and a resiliently operated rod coupled to the switch formed with a bent over portion for contact with the cigarette when in its rotated potition, said rod for turning the switch on to light the cigarette and for turning the switch off when the cigarette is manually removed from the container.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said channel is open at the top for filling the channel with cigarettes.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rockable plate is moved toward the rear of the container to permit a cigarette to fall into the trough.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said stop engages an end portion of the cigarette and moves it to the rear of the trough while an edge of the trough enages an ad'acent portion of the cigarette to move it to e front 0 the container where it is available to an operator.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electric switch is a mercury switch operable when the switch is tilted.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said source of electric power is an automotive storage battery.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rod supports a helical spring urging the rod to engage the cigarette by its bent over portion.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electric switch includes a metal make and break pair of contacts.

9. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein a U-shaped coupling link is secured to the rodand engages an extension secured to said mercury switch for operating the switch when the rod is displaced.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electric switch includes a first metal contact secured to said rod and a second metal contact secured to a portion of the container.

1 l. A device as clalmed in claim 10 wherein said first and second metal contacts are coupled to their respective supports by means of threaded screw means and nuts whereby the positions of said contacts are adjustable.

12. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said' switch includes a first metal plate having an extension which is moved by the cigarette and a second metal plate secured to a rockable shaft.

13. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein said first and second metal plates are coated with a non-oxidizing conducting material.

14. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the width of said space between the sheets is made wide enough to accommodate a desired length of cigarette and an adjustableplate is provided for reducing the allowable width of saidspace to accommodate cigarettes having a shorter length. 

1. A cigarette case and lighter for delivering a lighted cigarette to an operator comprising a container for housing all the operating components; a pair of spaced parallel sheets forming a channel, the space between the sheets for accommodating a single layer of cigarettes; a rockable plate normally closing the bottom opening of said channel and resiliently urgeD to remain in that position; a trough positioned in front of said plate for receiving a single cigarette when the plate is manually moved away from the channel opening; a stop secured to a portion of the container and extending into one end of said trough for rotating the cigarette about a substantially vertical axis when the trough and rockable plate are normalized; an electric heater coil mounted adjacent to said rockable plate for lighting the end of the cigarette that remains within the container; an electric switch connected in series between the electric heater and a source of electric power for supplying current to the heater; and a resiliently operated rod coupled to the switch formed with a bent over portion for contact with the cigarette when in its rotated potition, said rod for turning the switch on to light the cigarette and for turning the switch off when the cigarette is manually removed from the container.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said channel is open at the top for filling the channel with cigarettes.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rockable plate is moved toward the rear of the container to permit a cigarette to fall into the trough.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said stop engages an end portion of the cigarette and moves it to the rear of the trough while an edge of the trough engages an adjacent portion of the cigarette to move it to the front of the container where it is available to an operator.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electric switch is a mercury switch operable when the switch is tilted.
 6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said source of electric power is an automotive storage battery.
 7. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rod supports a helical spring urging the rod to engage the cigarette by its bent over portion.
 8. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electric switch includes a metal make and break pair of contacts.
 9. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein a U-shaped coupling link is secured to the rod and engages an extension secured to said mercury switch for operating the switch when the rod is displaced.
 10. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electric switch includes a first metal contact secured to said rod and a second metal contact secured to a portion of the container.
 11. A device as claImed in claim 10 wherein said first and second metal contacts are coupled to their respective supports by means of threaded screw means and nuts whereby the positions of said contacts are adjustable.
 12. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said switch includes a first metal plate having an extension which is moved by the cigarette and a second metal plate secured to a rockable shaft.
 13. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein said first and second metal plates are coated with a non-oxidizing conducting material.
 14. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the width of said space between the sheets is made wide enough to accommodate a desired length of cigarette and an adjustable plate is provided for reducing the allowable width of said space to accommodate cigarettes having a shorter length. 